The ACG explains that NCCP can mimic the pain of angina, which is defined as chest pain of cardiac origin. Learning ways to distinguish the different types of chest pain can potentially put your mind at ease and help you to treat your acid reflux more effectively. However, the symptoms of a heart attack need to be taken very seriously and warrant immediate medical attention.

Location
of chest pain

Cardiac chest pain and NCCP can both appear behind your breastbone, making it hard to distinguish between the two types of pain. Cardiac chest pain is more likely than reflux-related pain to spread to other parts of your body. These places include your:

arms, especially the upper part of your left arm

back

shoulders

neck

Chest pain stemming from GERD may affect your upper body in some cases, but it’s most often centered either behind your sternum or just underneath it in an area known as the epigastrium.

NCCP is usually accompanied by a burning behind your breastbone and may not be as present in the left arm. Esophageal spasms are the constriction of the muscles around the food tube. They occur when acid reflux or other medical issues cause damage within the esophagus. In turn, these spasms can cause pain in your throat and the upper area of your chest as well.

What does chest
pain feel like?

You may be able to tell what type of chest pain it is by assessing the type of pain you’re feeling. Common ways that patients describe pain associated with heart disease include:

crushing

searing

tight like a vice

heavy like an elephant sitting on the chest

deep

NCCP, on the other hand, may feel sharp and tender. People with GERD may have temporary, severe chest pain when taking a deep breath or coughing. This difference is key. The intensity level of cardiac pain remains unchanged when you breathe deeply. Reflux-related chest discomfort is less likely to feel like it’s originating from deep within your chest. It may seem like it’s closer to the surface of your skin, and it’s more often described as burning or sharp.

How can body position
affect symptoms?

Ask yourself if your chest pain changes in intensity or goes away completely when you change your body position to determine the cause of the discomfort. Muscle strains and GERD-related chest pain tend to feel better when you move your body. The symptoms of acid reflux, including chest pain and heartburn, may ease considerably as you straighten your body to a sitting or standing position. Bending and lying down can make GERD symptoms and discomfort worse, particularly right after eating.

Cardiac chest pain continues to hurt, regardless of your body position. However, it can also come and go throughout the day, depending on the severity of chest pain. NCCP associated with indigestion or a pulled muscle, for example, tends to be uncomfortable for an extended period of time before going away.

Diagnosis

You should take chest pain seriously. Speak with your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor may perform an EKG or stress test. They may also draw cardiac blood tests to rule out heart disease as the underlying cause if you don’t have a prior history of GERD. Usually, a full medical history and testing can help your doctor find the reason for your chest pain and put you on the road to recovery.

Treatment of chest pain

Chest pain that accompanies frequent heartburn can be treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). A PPI is a type of medication that reduces acid production in your stomach. Your doctor also may recommend cutting out certain types of food that can trigger symptoms, such as fried foods, spicy foods, and citrus fruits. A prolonged trial of PPI drugs can help relieve symptoms so that non-cardiac-related chest pain will no longer be a part of your life.

Q:

What types of chest pain are the most dangerous and should be addressed as an emergency?

A:

Whether it’s cardiac or non-cardiac cardiac chest pain, it can be difficult to determine an emergency situation since the symptoms vary. If the onset of the pain is sudden, unexplained, and worrisome, you should call your doctor or seek emergency care immediately.

Dr. Mark LaFlammeAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.